Author: Stephanie Larkin

As much as people do not like to think about their beloved pets falling ill or getting injured, it can still happen, and treatment can be expensive. In order to provide an alternative for pet owners who fear that they might not be able to afford unexpected veterinary bills, various companies have started offering pet health insurance which can be used much like standard medical insurance would be used to cover visits to the doctor or hospital for the pet owners themselves. Before running out and buying insurance for your pets, though, it is important that you understand how pet health insurance works, what the limitations on it are, and how much it is going to cost so that you don't end up paying more than you have to for something that will not offer as much coverage as you would like.

How Pet Health Insurance Works
Much like the health insurance that you would purchase for yourself or your family, pet health insurance is designed to provide financial coverage that will cover veterinary care in case your pets become sick or injured. The coverage is also designed to help cover routine veterinary care such as checkups, rabies and other annual shots, and regular medication such as flea and tick medicines or any other specific medications required by pet illnesses. Some forms of pet health insurance work directly with veterinarians to cover the expenses with no up-front cost to you, while others may require that you pay for the care that your pet receives when it's due and then file a claim so that you may be reimbursed for the amount that you have paid.

Tags: health | insurance

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 New to this series? Read Part 1 here.

This zoonotic virus is typically transferred through the bite of an infected animal, though other forms of contact have been known to be a cause. It causes acute encephalitis and left untreated, it is almost invariably fatal. The virus attacks peripheral nerves and travels to the central nervous system (the Brain and spinal cord). This transition time can vary depending on how close to the brain the site of infection is, and whether treatment is successfully initiated, but typically clinical signs of infection occur two to six months after initial contact.

• The prodromal stage lasts two-to-three days. The signs can include behavioral changes, fever, slow eye reflexes, and chewing at the bite site.

• The furious stage lasts two-to-four days. During this stage, signs of erratic behavior may include irritability, restlessness, barking, aggression, vicious attacks on inanimate objects, and unexplained roaming. Disorientation and seizures may also develop.

• The paralytic stage lasts two-to-four days, during which signs of paralysis develop, usually beginning in the limb that was bitten. Paralysis of the throat and face cause a change in the bark, drooling with typical foaming at the mouth, and a dropped jaw. These signs are followed by depression, coma, and death from respiratory paralysis.

In humans, the onset of rabies can be prevented if treatment is started immediately after exposure. It involves post-exposure vaccinations over the course of several weeks. Doses of immunoglobulin are also given to boost the body’s immune system against the virus. In other mammals, there is no treatment for rabies after exposure. Pets that have been exposed to rabies, that have been vaccinated, must be re-vaccinated and quarantined for 90 days to prevent further exposure both to the animal and to the public. Pets that are not current on their rabies vaccine that are exposed to the disease often do not fare as well, with euthanasia being the most common recommendation.

Due to their nocturnal nature and desire to roam, cats typically are more commonly exposed to and infected by rabies than dogs. Ironically, cats are less likely to be up-to-date on vaccines. The presence of feral cat colonies is one explanation as to why the statistics are so skewed, but economic hardship and lack of public knowledge can also be attributed.

Because there is no cure, vaccination is the only way to prevent this disease from occurring. Aside from the concern for your pet’s health, as well as for public health, vaccinating for rabies is a legal requirement for owners of dogs, cats, and other small mammals across the United States. A licensed veterinarian is the only person who can legally vaccinate your dog and should only do so after a thorough examination to rule out any health problems that may be aggravated by vaccination. Park Avenue Animal Hospital offers 1- and 3-year vaccines based on the age and general health of your pet. Our doctors are more than happy to discuss tailoring a vaccine schedule to meet your pet’s individual needs.

Tags: dogs | cats | vaccines | immunizations | antibody | antibodies | companion animals | ferrets | birds | horses | bacteria | virus | veterinarian

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Companion animals are susceptible to a wide range of diseases that can be potentially deadly if left untreated. Some of these diseases are considered zoonotic, or transferable to humans, and can be especially harmful in children and elderly adults. The good news is that these diseases are very easily prevented. Parents are familiar with immunizing children from infancy into childhood, and in some situations adults are required to have certain vaccines boosted before traveling into certain parts of the world.   The same rings true for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, rabbits, and even some birds!

In the next few articles we’re going to talk a bit about dog and cat vaccines, and the diseases they protect against. Vaccinating your pets on a schedule recommended by your veterinarian is one of the easiest and best ways to help your pet live a long, healthy life.

Tags: vaccines | immunizations | antibody | antibodies | companion animals | dogs | cats | ferrets | birds | horses | bacteria | virus | veterinarian

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Halloween is here! This fun fall holiday is celebrated all around the world and has ties to many different cultures, with a history spanning over a thousand years. In our modern time, Halloween is a holiday marked by trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns, and costumes of all flavors. It is the first true taste of the fall season and a great reason to get together with friends and family. Halloween is not always a favorable time for pets, however. This time of year, it is especially important to be vigilant your pet’s safety and comfort.  In my previous post, I touched on the dangers of chocolate in dogs. Here, I’d like to discuss a few other potential problems that pets may face during this otherwise celebratory time of the year. 

Everywhere you look, you can find costumes for pets. Every pop culture reference imaginable has a doggy-sized outfit made in its image.  While many pets are fairly accepting of dressing up, not all are willing to have a night on the town dressed as Spider-man or Tinkerbelle. If you’re going to dress your pet up this year, make sure they are comfortable and unrestricting, and don’t  dress your pet in anything that will restrict hearing, vision, or breathing.

Fear and Anxiety
Even pets who are willing to dress up for Halloween can be uneasy around strangers wearing costumes and masks. Dogs recognize people by scent and sound, but also by sight. If you are wearing a mask and costume, don’t be surprised if your beloved companion wants nothing to do with you.  The number of dog bites increases this time of year because people approach familiar dogs while wearing unfamiliar attire and the dog gets spooked.  Play it safe and don’t approach dogs during Halloween unless they can identify you 100%. Approaching a dog that is already frightened, can be a dangerous situation. To keep your own pet from having issues with neighborhood children and adults, a humane crate or even a closed bedroom can be a safe haven for the night.

Cats and Halloween
If you own a cat, be sure to keep him indoors on Halloween. It’s a horrible thing to think about, but there are people in the world, even in your neighborhood, that view Halloween as a time for anonymous mischief, and more often than not, neighborhood cats become the target of abuse.  As if that wasn’t enough to worry about, cats are curious creatures by nature and will often stick their noses where they shouldn’t, lending to burned whiskers and ingested bits of foil wrapper discarded from ‘human’ treats.  If you have a nervous cat, the sound of a doorbell ringing and the presence of strange people will likely cause your cat to want to run, the first chance he has to get out the door. To curb this urge, keep your cat tucked safely in a room away from the front of your house. Halloween celebrating doesn’t last but a few hours, and your cat will appreciate the safe haven once the trick-or-treaters begin knocking.

Halloween is meant to be a fun fall celebration for the family, which includes your pets. Keep them safe and healthy this year and always. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call Park Avenue Animal Hospital at (407) 880-9446.

Happy Howl-o-Ween!

Tags: halloween | costumes | pet safety | dogs | cats

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From October to February, the risk of a pet growing ill due to something they ate escalates exponentially. The key culprit? Chocolate. Ah, chocolate… so many varieties, so little time to enjoy it all. There’s dark, milk, semi-sweet, or white, chocolate to bake with, chocolate to put on your favorite confection, chocolate to mix in your favorite drink. Chocolate mixed with every flavor imaginable, from every country in the world. Who would have thought that such a delightful and widely-recognized treat could be so dangerous for dogs?

So why is chocolate so deadly to our pets? The answer comes from the very source of chocolate – the Cacao tree. Cocoa, along with other byproducts of the cacao bean, contains a chemical compound called Theobromine. This alkaloid is considered a stimulant, similar to caffeine, and has been associated with the mood-elevating effect chocolate has on us.  Many common mammals, including humans, lack the ability to metabolize this chemical properly. Humans can tolerate a moderate amount of theobromine in their diets. Usually our bodies are able to tell us well before we reach the toxic threshold that we’ve had too much. Dogs, on the other hand, can only tolerate a miniscule amount in comparison, but are able to inhale large quantities in a short period of time, without thought to their health.  A rapid buildup of theobromine, usually the result of rapid consumption of very rich, dark chocolate, can result in seizures, heart failure, internal bleeding, and death. 

 

If you suspect your pet has ingested a significant amount of chocolate, Contact Park Avenue Animal Hospital IMMEDIATELY at (407) 880-9446.

Have a safe and Happy Howl-o-ween!

Tags: pet advice | theobromine | fall | Chocolate

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With today's growing gas and food prices everyone is struggling to make ends meet. It is important to adjust your budget and lifestyle accordingly so you can prioritize your expenditures. Taking care of your pet should be in t he same category as taking care of yourself and your children. Too often pets are neglected when it comes down to the hard choices we all have to make. That is why it is so important you consider all options before you adopt a new pet. Ask yourself will you be able to afford annual exams and vaccinations? What about shampoo and coat and nail trimmings? What if your pet becomes seriously ill, will you be able to afford the care your pet may need?

Taking care of your pets health does not just include food and water. Your commitment to caring for your pet should hope for the best but plan for the worst. Good Luck!

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If you have to work on a computer all day (or night), there is nothing better than a warm and snuggly puppy curling up on your feet while sitting at your desk. I spend most of the day away from home working 10 hours at my "real job". I then come home and work my "second job" which entails sitting at a computer toiling away. Lately Lucy, our mini dachsund has taken to sleeping on my feet directly under my chair during my "evening shift".

When she does this, it gives me such a warm, comforting feeling. Similar to the feeling of family gathered around a fire in the fireplace drinking hot apple cider on a cold winter's day. I long for the day when I can work from home all day and experience the joys of warm puppy breath on my feet.

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